Floor surfacing machine



May 14, 1935 w, HOLT I 2,001,099

' FLOGJR SURFACING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1955 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

William E. Holt ATTORNEY.

y 1935. w. E. HOLT FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -INVENTOR.. T/Villiam E.H0lzf ATTORNEY:

Patented May 14, 1935 f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I noon SUIZFQZZZZ mm William E. HDIQ'NQM, N. J'-

Applicatlon February 12, 1935, Serial No. 6.158

11 Claims. (Cl. 51-176) My present invention relates in general to floor surfacing machines adapted for use in finishing and conditioning floors of various kinds, and more particularly to surfacing machines of the type in which the surfacing element, preferably an electrically driven rotary abrasive drum, is movable by the operator, without tilting the machine as a whole, toward and away from the floor or surface being treated.

Heretofore floor surfacing machines of the type described have been characterized in general by the excessive number and weight of the parts thereof, difllculty of assembly and repair, and relatively high cost of manufacture. The construction and arrangement of the parts of most ofsuch machines now in use, and particularly the parts thereof for controlling the position of the surfacing drum, have been such as to cause an appreciable amount of skidding of-the drum when subjected to even relatively light pressures, so

that the operator usually finds it necessary to release the pressure to continue working in astraight path.

\ A main object of my invention is the provision of a floor surfacing machine of the type described which is characterized by its relatively light weight, low cost of manufacture and'operation,

, ease of assembly and repair, high cutting emciency, dustless operation, and ease of control in operation. I

A further and more specific object is the provision of a simple and effective construction and arrangement of the surfacing drum and parts for controlling the position thereof and pressure thereon, whereby regardless of the pressure on the drum, the machinewill not skid nor waver from its intended path of movement.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a,

part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advanv tages and specific objects attained by its use,

reference should be-had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a floor surfacing, machine constructed in accordance .with'myxinvention with oneof the sideplates removed and the surfacing drum in an operating position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with the surfacing .drum in itsraised position I2 detachably secured thereto, and a curved shield or guard I3 hinged to the front end of the bed plate. Substantially centrally located on the bed plate is an electric motor I having a suitable driving connection to the projecting end of a shaft I5 mounted in bearings fixed in the forward portion of the side plates I2 and carrying a surfacing drum IS. The drum I6 has a circumferential layer of sponge rubber I 6 or other suitable resilient materialpver which is secured a sheet of abrasive material, such as sand paper. The motor I4 is similarly connected to a suction fan I! mounted on the bed plate at the rear of the motor. The intake of the fan is connected to a conduit I8 extending downwardly through the bed plate and thence forwardly'to terminate adjacent the rear of the drum I 6 in a suction nozzle I 9 shaped to receive the dust resulting from the .operation of the drum. The foregoing parts are May 19, 1933, topermit a surfacing operation right up to a vertical boundary wall of the floor being conditioned.

In thepresent' machine, the fan outlet is connected to a vertically arranged dust pipe 20 having an inverted U-shaped end section 2| swiveled thereon, to the other .end of which is removably fastened a dust bag 22. A manually operable switch box 23 for controlling the operation of the motor I4 is mounted'on the upper part of the dust pipe. On the front end of the bed plate is 40 detachably mounted a relatively heavy weight 2L Spacer bars 25 rigidly connect the side plates ,I2 at longitudinally spaced points.

In "acordance withmy invention, the housing I III and the parts attached thereto, when the drum I8 is in its raised or inoperative position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2; contact with the r flat top plate 3| of a wheeled truck or chassis 30 constructed tofit within the rear end of the housing I0. At its front end the plate 3| has a axis of rotation of the motor shaft.- Through the 5 I hubs 33 extends an axle or'plvot rod 34 having its opposite ends rigidly connected to the side plates |2 adjacent the lower edge thereof. A pair of wheels 35 are rotatably mounted on the axle 34 close to the inner sides of the side plates l2 and serve as the forward supports for the truck 30. The-housing l0 and parts supported thereby are thus tiltable about the axis of the axle 34.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the rear end of the truck top plate 3| is symmetrically reduced to afford clearance for the uprising portion of the dust conduit l6 and the rear end of the neck 36 so formed terminates in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined channel 31 into which fits the lower end of a rearwardly inclined steering post 38. The post and channel section are rigidly connected by bolts 39 and a trailing wheel or castor 40 is swiveled in the rear portion of the neck 36 to form a third point of support for the truck 30. Handle bars 4| are secured to the upper end of the post 38 and a counterweight 42 bolted to an intermediate part thereof.

The housing If] and the parts supported thereby are so arranged and the weight thereof distributed that when the drum "5 is in its raised position, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, the center of gravity of the housing and supported parts will be slightly forward of the axis of the axle 34, whereby the housing tends to tilt about the axle 34 and lower the drum IS. The mechanism for controlling the tilting movements of the housing l0 and exerting. an adjustable pressure on the surfacing drum in its lower or operative position comprises a bell crank lever 45 pivotally mounted on a casting 46 secured to the post 38 adjacent its upper end, a downwardly and rearwardly projecting bracket 41 rigidly secured to the rear end of the bed plate I a pair of internally threaded socket members 48 and 49 having forked ends pivotally connected to the lower arm of the lever 45 and bracket 4'! respectively, and a turnbuckle rod 50 threaded into the sockets. The casting 46 has a laterally projecting lug 5| below the pivot joint of the lever 45 which serves as a stop for the lowerlever arm when the toggle formed by the lever 45, sockets 48 and 49, and turnbuckle rod 50' is at or slightly forward of its dead center position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The upper edge of the stop 5| is arranged in the path of movement of the upper arm of thelever to limit the downward movement thereof, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2.

When the machine is being transported or otherwise out of operation, the housing In is normally held in its horizontal position with the surfacing drum l6 raised and the bed plate contacting with the top plate of the truck 30. The lever 45 is then inits raised position with the lower lever arm contacting with the stop 5|. The counterweight 42 is sufficient to offset any tendency of the machine to bodily tilt forwardly and the machine can be readily rolled in any direction on the supporting wheels 35 and 40. The weight 24 which normallyrepresents about onesixth the weight of the machine, can be readily detached to facilitate transportation of the machine.

When the machine is to be put into operation, the motor I4 is switched on and the operator grasps the handle bars'4l and presses down on the lever 45 to move the toggle out of the dead center position. The downward movement of the lever causes the rod 50 to be raised, thereby raising the rear end of the housing and causing the hOusing and supported parts to tilt about the axis of the axle 34. This tilting movement is facilitated by the distribution of the weight of the housing and supported parts and the drum moves quickly downward into contact with the floor, in which position it will be subjected to a portion of the weight of the housing and supported parts. The machine is easily guided in operation by the operator with both hands grasping the handle bars and one of the fingers of the right hand pressing on the lever 45. Additional pressure can be applied to the drum in excess of the portion of the weight of the housing and supported parts thereon by the operator pressing down on the lever to further tilt the housing. The resilient construction of the surfacing drum facilitates the application of such additional pressure thereon. The fixed location of the drum relative to the housing and the relatively low postiion of the pivot axis of the housing largely contribute towards the maintenance of the drum in its intended path of movement without skidding, regardless of the pressure applied to the drum.

When it is desired to raise the drum to its upper or inoperative position, the operator pulls the lever 45 back to the full line position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the weight of the housing and supported parts will be entirely borne by the truck 30 and its supporting wheels 35 and 40.

The machine described is thus characterized by the simplicity of construction and accessibility of its parts, its ease of transportation by one man, and the positive control by the operator of the depth and direction of the cutting operation.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described herein the best form of my invention now known to me, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention covered by my claims, and that \certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

I claim:

1. A floor surfacing machine comprising a supporting truck having a pair of supporting wheels mounted at its forward end, a housing tiltable about the axis of said truck supporting wheels, a surfacing drum rotatably mounted in said housing adjacent its forward end, a motor mounted on said housing, a driving connection-between said motor and drum, and means for tilting said housing relative to said truck to move said drum toward and away from its operative position.

2. A floor surfacingmachine comprising a supporting truck having an axle supported at its forward end adjacent the floor, a pair of supporting wheels mounted on said axle, a housing having a pair of side plates mounted on said axle and tiltable about the axis thereof a surfacing drum rotatably mounted in said side plates in front of said supporting wheels, a motor mounted on said housing, a driving connection between said motor and drum, and means for tilting said housing about the axis of said truck axle to move said drum toward and away from its operative position 3. A floor surfacing machine comprising a supporting truck'having an axle supported at its forward end adjacent the floor, a pair of supporting wheels rotatably mounted on said axle, a housing having a pair of side plates rigidly mounted on I said axle and tiltable about the axis thereof, a

surfacing drum rotatably mounted in said side plates at their forward ends, a motor mounted v 2,oo1,ooo on said housing, a driving connection between said motor and drum,}and means for tilting said housing about the axis of said truck axle to move said drum toward and away from its operative position.

4. A floor surfacing machine comprising a supporting truck having a pair of supporting wheels mounted at its forward end, a steering post on said truck, a housing tiltable about the axis of said truck supporting wheels, a surfacing drum rotatably mounted in said housing adjacent its forward end, a motor mounted on said housing, a driving connection between said motor and drum, and means for tilting said housing about the axis of said truck supporting wheels to move said drum toward and away from its operative position comprising a lever pivoted on said post and a rod pivotally connected to said lever and housing and operable by said lever to tilt said housing about the axis of said truck supporting wheels.

5. A- floor surfacing machine comprising asupporting truck having an axle rotatably supported at its forward end adjacent the floor, a pair of supporting wheels rotatably mounted on said axle, a steering post upwardly and rearwardly inclined from said truck, a housing having a pair of side plates rigidly secured to said axle and tiltable about the axisthereof, a surfacing drum rotatably mounted in said side plates at their forward ends, a motor mounted on said housing, a driving connection between said motor and drum, and means for tilting said housing about the axis of said truck axle to move said drum toward and away from its operative position comprising a bell crank lever pivoted on said post and and pivotally connected to said lever and housing and operable by said lever to tilt said housing about the axis of said truck axle.

6. A floor surfacing machine comprising a tiltable housing having a pair of side plates rigidly secured thereto, a pair of supporting wheels supported on said side plates adJacent their lower sides, a surfacing drum rotatably. mounted in said side plates at their forward ends, a motor mounted on said housing, a' driving connection between said motor and drum, the weight of said housing and parts supported thereon being so distributed as to locate the center of gravitythereof forwardly of said supporting wheels, a supporting truck below said housing having its forward end pivotally supported coaxially with said supporting wheels, and means for tilting said housing relative to said truck to move said drum toward and awaTfromits operative position.

7. A fiopr surfacing machine comprising a tiltable housing having a pair of side plates rigidly secured thereto, an axle supported in said side plates adjacent their lower sides, a-pair of supporting wheels rotatably mounted on said axle, a

surfacing drum rotatably mounted in said side plates at their forward ends, a motormounted on said housing, a driving connection between said motor and drum, the weight of said housing and parts supported thereon being so distributed as to locate the center of gravity thereof forwardly of said axle, a supporting truck below said housing having its forward end pivotally connected to said axle, and means for tilting said housing relative to said truck to move said drum toward and away from its operative position.

8. A floor surfacing machine comprising a tiltable housing having a pair of side plates rigidly secured thereto, an axle supported in said side plates adjacent their lower sides, a pair of supporting wheels mounted on said axle, a surfacing drum rotatably mounted in said side plates at their'forward ends and having a circumferential layer of resilient material, a motor mounted on said housing, a driving connection between said motor and drum, a supporting truck below said housing having its forward end pivotally connected to said axle, and means for tilting said housing relative to said truck to move said drum toward and away from its operative position and to apply pressure thereon in its operative position.

9. A floor surfacing machine comprising a tiltable housing having a pair of side plates rigidly secured thereto, an axle supported in said side plates adjacentntheir lower sides, a pair of supporting wheels rotatably mounted on said axle, a surfacing drum rotatably mounted in said side plates at their forward ends and having a circumferential layer of resilient material, a motor mounted on said housing, a driving connection between said motor and drum, a suction fan mounted on said housing at the rear of said motor and having a dust conduit extending below said housing to the rear of said drum, the weight of said housing and parts supported thereon being so distributed as to locate the center of gravity thereof forwardly of said axle, a supporting truck below said housing having its forward end pivotally connected to said axle, and means for tilting said housing relative to said truck to move said drum toward and away from its operative position and to apply pressure thereon in its operative position.

10. A floor surfacing machine comprising a tiltable housing having a pair of side plates rigidly secured thereto, an axle supported in said side plates adjacent their lower sides, a pair of supporting wheels rotatably mounted on'said axle, a surfacing drum rotatably mounted in said side plates at their forward ends and having a circumferential layer of resilient material, a motor centrally mounted on said housing, .a driving connection between said motor and drum, the weight of said housing and parts supported thereon being so distributed as to locate the center of gravity thereof forwardly of saidaxle, a supporting truck below said housing having its forward end pivotally connected to said axle, a trailing wheel swiveled on the rear end of said truck, a steering post upwardly and rearwardly inclined from said truck, a counterweight secured to said steering post, and means for tilting said housing relative to said truck to move said drum toward and away from its operative position and to apply pressure thereon in its operative position comprising a bell crank lever pivoted on the upper end of said steering post and a rod pivotally connected to said lever and housing and operable by said lever to tilt said housing about the axis of said axle.

11. A floor surfacing machine'comprising a tiltable housing having a. pair of side plates rigidly secured thereto, an axle supported in said side plates adjacent their lower sides, a pair of supporting wheels rotatably mounted on said axle, a surfacing drum-rotatably mounted in said side plates at their forward ends and having a circumferential layer of resilient material, a motor centrally mounted on said housing, a driving connectheron being so distributed as to locate the center of gravity thereof forwardly of said axle, a supporting truck below said housing having its forward end pivotally connected to said axle, a trailing wheel swiveled on the rear end of said truck, a steering post upwardly and rearwardly inclined from said truck, a counterweight secured to said steering post, and means for tilting said aooaooa 

